Concept:
Every town is made up of a variety of individuals and families. In this contest you will build a home for four very different families and a community lot for all to enjoy. Each round comes with a pre-set foundation that you can neither add to nor take away from so it’s what is known as a ‘foundation challenge’. There will be five rounds including the application round.

Skill Level
Any skill level. Some building skill would be helpful but a high building skill is not needed. This is a beginners contest. If you have never been in a build contest before, this is a good one to get your feet wet in.

Rules:

This contest is for TS2 only.

No eliminations.

CC will be allowed in every round except the application round. CC includes defaults, recolours, OMSP, anything that Maxis did not provide.

You may use career or aspiration rewards. Buyable career rewards http://modthesims.info/d/374017 Or if you have Nightlife or any newer EP you can use a cheat, unlockcareerrewards. You will need a sim on the lot to use the cheat.

Feel free to use any and all building cheats you want.

Each round that you use no CC on will give you 5 bonus points. Except the last round, there is no bonus on the last round. You must remove defaults or this will count as CC!

You may not add or take away from the given foundation and that includes any form of decking. You may make your foundation lower or higher. Your foundation may be turned into veranda/porch/deck or planters, so long as the original foundation remains the same. You may not delete foundation and replace it with decking or tile.

I will allow separate foundation to be used to make a gazebo or planter box. This must be clearly separate from the given foundation and house, not attached.

Each round will last for two weeks. Unless otherwise specified.

You may make up a short story about your families. Not required.
You may make the families and show them in your 12 extra photos. Not required but I am interested to see them. You gain no points for doing or not doing this. CC on the sims doesn't count.

You may use the sims on your lot to add things only sims can do such as plant a vegetable garden, sew curtains etc.

Each round comes with a random Maxis object; this must be visible in one of your entry photos and must make some sense. For example a fridge can’t simply be left out in the garden –well not unless you are very creative in doing so. If this item is left out/not visible to the judges you will lose 5 points. You may recolour it in any recolours the game comes with. CC recolours count as CC. I have given a link to the item on the default object data base so you can see what it looks like.

Please use either the downloadable lot or make an exact copy.

You may attach a garage to the foundation or build a separate carport/garage without a foundation. This is only for parking a car.

Each round requires:
1 shot showing the front.
1 shot showing the back
1 shot showing the price. (If you have the needed EP simply show the price on the lot.)
1 shot of each floor plan as close as you can.
1 shot over the entire lot down at foundation level.

You are allowed another 12 extra photos to show off your lot to its best advantage. So 17 shots total. If your house has a second story that is a second floor plan shot making 18 pictures. You don't have to do this many but you can if you want to.

ScoringEach round will have a potential of scoring 25 points from each judge.

Build skill up to 5 points
Is the build interesting? Is the roof suitable?

Furnishing/decorating skill up to 5 points
Does your interior and exterior furnishing and decorating style look harmonious? Does it reflect the chosen family?

Playability up to 5 points
Can all usable objects be used? Is there enough space for sims to move around without causing traffic jams and foot stomping? This does not include garden plants or items set up only for deco purposes. For example a strip of pool water used as part of a decorative fountain is not expected to be usable. Mods to make things usable do not count (inaccessible beds) the beds/items have to be accessed without mods.

Requirementsup to 5 points
Are all requirements of the family present?

Wants
Did you manage to fill the family’s wishes?

Special Scoring

5 point bonus awarded by me for using no cc in each round. Remember to remove any defaults such as roof trim, bedding, curtains etc and say that you used no CC.

CC Free Note
The easy way to build CC free is to make another Sims 2 folder. Simply rename your current folder, run the game and it will make you a second Sims 2 folder free of any CC including defaults.

Rule Edit: I will allow separate foundation/decking to be used to make a gazebo, planter box, tree house or any other creative thing you have in mind. This must be clearly separate from the foundation that I gave. Not attached in anyway.
Ergo Window Fix Since the recolours are Maxis and they broke them, this fix will be allowed.

Craftables such as easel painting, photographs, things made on work benches and growable Seasons plants may be done after your lot is finished from your sims own money. Finish your lot, take a picture showing the price then move in sims to make the craftables. If you want to use buyable craftables, those must be placed during the build and are part of the budget.

Round Five
Build a community lot that everyone (toddler age and up) in this new neighbourhood can enjoy. So it must be family friendly. It can be any type of community lot; a park, a community centre, shops, anything you like. I would suggest though that it not be a pub and brothel since that is not family friendly.

Requirements:
Must have some way of eating and bathrooms with at least 4 toilets on the lot.
Parenting Room (see link below) Toddlers require at least: one fridge, one crib, one potty, one change table and one toy.
Your lot must have something educational, something flirty and something fun.

New Rules! For this round only you may add decking to the foundations or not as you like. Your decking areas may be separated or joined. Go wild. Do not add or take away from the given foundation, do not add more foundation anywhere on the lot.

Rule Edit: I thought I had uploaded this as a 4 by 4 but I packaged it before the contest went live, so in due of this I will allow this lot to be either a 3 by 3 or a 4 by 4. You may use lot adjuster to add the extra tile or build it by sight from my picture, this is why I leave the grid on. To change in lot adjuster add 5 tiles to the left, 5 to the right and 10 to the back. This way you can leave the road well alone.

Rounds 2-4

Build and decorate a house for a family that you choose from the list below. You can only build for your chosen family once. Three families can be done with just the base game; the other two families require one or two EP’s. Some families are a bit more challenging than others. Pick carefully.
Use the given foundation but do not add or take away from it
Budget up to $80,000
Requirements, wants and random object depend on which family you choose.
You may use CC or go for the no CC bonus.
Round 2 $35,000
Round 3 $50,000

Application/Round One

The Walter’s are newlyweds who have scraped enough cash together for their first small home. They are the only pre-set family.
Build on the given foundation shown below.No CC is allowed for this round.Budget up to $25,000Requirements The house must have all the basics. At least one fridge, stove, counter, double bed, toilet, shower and/or bath and some place to sit. For safety at least one phone and smoke alarm.Wants They are expecting a baby in a few months and would like a small nursery. Random Object "EconoCool" Refrigerator http://sims2-objectdefaults.dreamwidth.org/68690.html May be recoloured with whatever Maxis recolours it comes with. You must include the random object and show it in one of the pictures. A base game 2 by 2 shrunk lot has been kindly provided by AndrewGloria.

The Families

The Elliott’s

This family consists of a single parent and one child. Dad...or Mum is a bike enthusiast who works from home as a web designer. Her/his favourite colours are blue, red and white, but hates pink. The child loves butterflies and to dance and their favourite colours are pink, blue and purple, but they hate red... Interpret as you will! Requirements Try and build a house that caters to the colours that they both like. The parent needs an office with a computer that is off limits to the child.Wants The parent would love to have a shed where they can work on their bikes. The child wants a garden with flowers to attract the butterflies. Random Object The Stark Inspiration Chair http://sims2-objectdefaults.dreamwidth.org/4305.html (Base Game friendly)

The Lambert’s

The family that laughs together stays together. Or in the Lambert’s case that might be fall over each other since they have 6 children... yes six. 2 teenage girls, 2 child age boys and 2 toddlers. One teenage girl is goth while the other is girly. The boys don’t care so long as they have room to run around.Requirements Build them a four bedroom house (only four bedrooms no more). Must have at least two bathrooms. Wants The parents want a play ground for the kids. The boys want a tree house. (this can be up in a tree, on stumps, or more like a fort)
Random Object The Wanderfall kids picture http://sims2-objectdefaults.dreamwidth.org/52586.html (base Game Friendly)

The Newman’s

Are a couple with no children, just lots of fur babies. Requirements: At least 2 bedrooms. (that ,means two rooms with beds) All the needed items for two cats, two dogs, fish, bird and a wormrat. The dogs may have a kennel each outside; the other animals need a place inside. There can be a dedicated animal room/s.Wants: A fenced in yard with something special for the pampered pets. Random Object: Bone Rug by Bonafide Luxury. http://sims2-objectdefaults.dreamwidth.org/438151.html (You will need the Pet’s EP for this choice)

The Rhode's

Retired hippie artists. They love finding odds and ends at flea markets. They need at least two bedrooms so they have a spare for guests. Requirements A good size fruit and veg garden. A place to sew, paint and make pottery. Wants A house/furniture made from plenty of recycled materials. Random item The flamingo http://sims2-objectdefaults.dreamwidth.org/50074.html (Needs Seasons and Free Time)

Evans

James has one goal, to make the sim Olympics. Requirements: A house with at least three types of workout equipment plus a pool. (a radio plus a ‘yoga mat’ counts.)Wants A modern house. Random object The Measure of a Sim" Wooden Modelhttp://sims2-objectdefaults.dreamwidth.org/50328.html (base Game Friendly)

Rodney’s

This couple love to entertain out by the pool, fire up the barbie and relax with a cold one. Requires At least 3 items from under the party tab. A pool, BBQ and barbeque eating area. Wants A living room large enough to dance in with a stereo.Random Object: Little House Lantern. http://sims2-objectdefaults.dreamwidth.org/84125.html
(Base game friendly)

To anyone interested in the contest. Make sure you read over the whole contest so that you understand the rules and what it's about. Then download and build on the foundation given for the pre set family. If you don't have M&G you will need to build a replica from the picture I provided. I left the grid lines on to make that easier. Then to apply you need to get your photos posted. Once you get your photos in then I will add your name to the table.

If anyone only has base game there are special notes. One in the rules about lot sizes and one under the foundation picture.

A countdown ticker will be coming later.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown

This sounds like fun, but the pictures and roof concern me as they are not something I am familiar with. I may just play along from the sidelines and work on my building skills that way. I do love watching these contests and am so happy you made it "beginners level", that was very nice. Good luck to everyone! I will be watching from the bench.

@yavannatw thank you for your entry, your pictures are not meeting the size requirements. If you read up in the rules all pictures must meet MTS guidelines, so 800 by 600. Use either a screenshot program or the print screen button, the C key or in game camera is too small.
I would also suggest taking more walk around sim eye pictures, for example there is none of the garden and you can have to 12. (Thanks for adding more)

The overhead shot of the lot is different from the floor plan, you have the overhead but not a floor plan, the floor plan needs to fill the picture with just your building. For the overhead you might like to keep the roof on so the judges can see it properly. Remember anything that they can't see properly they can't judge you fully on.

If these are screenshots you may not want to use photobucket since they can shrink your picture size. It's easy to simply upload picture under advanced and bypass places like Photo bucket. Looking again I do think that is what happened PB shrunk your photos.

Once we have the correct picture size I will add you to the table.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown

Here is the Walter's little new house.
No cc, except for those 3 mods that deals with shadows and shaders. This is a brand new EA games folder.
I accidentally hit a foundation wall with the hammer, trying to get rid of a bush I think. I never noticed it before, and it is seen on my top view foundation picture.
Sorry about that.

Hi joandsarah77.
I used Fraps for taking the pics. photobucket must have shrunk them. Do you use attachments for uploading photos? You can tell I'm a beginner at doing this. How do you then create spoilers? I attached the pics but when I go to preview there's nothing? Sorry for being a bit thick.

No worries yavannatw feel free to ask questions. Just go advanced then scroll down to image upload. The site only accepts jpgs or pngs. You made a spoiler for your pictures already, or do you mean something else? Just edit your entry post with pictures the correct size.

Click on the picture you just uploaded and it will show up in a new page. Grab the address from it then click the little box, up where bold, quote etc are, there is a small square box. Hover over it and it says insert image. Put the address you just copied in there.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown

No worries yavannatw feel free to ask questions. Just go advanced then scroll down to image upload. The site only accepts jpgs or pngs. You made a spoiler for your pictures already, or do you mean something else? Just edit your entry post with pictures the correct size.

Click on the picture you just uploaded and it will show up in a new page. Grab the address from it then click the little box, up where bold, quote etc are, there is a small square box. Hover over it and it says insert image. Put the address you just copied in there.

Thanks for that. I missed that extra step. Not sure why screenshots are showing under the spoiler though.

I might enter, but might have to drop out at some point, since something could be coming up in the next month or two. (Either that, or build a lickety-split house. That could be a challenge in and of itself!)I haven't built in a while, either, so I might be rusty. I've already downloaded the application.

If I enter a house, I'll try to enter it from the computer that I know wasn't hug-bugged, just as an extra precaution. Also, I have fewer Build items on it.

Oh ... that should be Ok. Even if the event happens, if I have a couple of weeks to do each one, I should be able to at least do a really quick house. It might not be great, but at least it would be an entry! I don't expect to win. I just hope I don't wind up with people going, "What Sim in its right mind would want to live THERE?"

You must have put img code or something inside the spoiler if you have pictures inside the spoiler. I don't have privies to edit your post and look inside.

I am looking at your screenshots inside your spoiler. They are all showing up. Your overhead and floor plan are still reading too small at 523px × 738px but your front pic is reading a nice 1,091px × 699px. So it's just those two, the one of your floor plan and the one showing your roof. If you just take pictures in Fraps, change to a jpg or a png and don't crop they should all be the correct size.

"I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives." - Unknown